This is a discussion on Counter-intuitive strategy: Raising pre-flop with "mediocre" cards within the online poker forums, in the Learning Poker section; Something like "4 4" or "A 5" is somewhat weak in a hand with 10 players.
Odds are you'll be beat by the river.
It's even borderline

Something like "4 4" or "A 5" is somewhat weak in a hand with 10 players.Odds are you'll be beat by the river.
It's even borderline in a table of 4 or 5.
But, it's very decent when it's just head's up.

So, I've learned the idea of raising with weaker cards in order to get players to fold.
As a noob, you only raise pre-flop when you might have pocket pair, etc.
This was a big lesson. And it has worked well. Got a mediocre hand?
Raise and get people to fold, and it starts becoming a stronger hand!
Takes some sack. I have internalized this, and even did it a little bit when playing live.

Am I on the right track?

The same idea goes for strong pocket cards, in fact.
"A A" is killer against 2-3 players.
But, it's nothing great in a table of 10.
"K Q" is good, but I only feel confident pre-flop against 1 person where no one hits pair, and I may have high card.

So, as a noob, with "A A", you want to keep players in and not fold, so there will be more to feed the pot.
But, you risk losing to a trips, flush, straight.
You're better off raising pre-flop and either taking it (a win is a win) or just going head's up (and crushing him with a much higher probability)

Am I on the right track?

#2

3rd September 2013, 2:30 AM

Akorps [450]

Online Poker at: Intertops

Game: Omaha hi-lo

Yeah, some hands are better heads-up, some better in a multi-way pot. Plus raising with weak hands can fool some players.

#3

3rd September 2013, 2:51 AM

BigCountryAA [392]

Poker at: Bovada

Game: Holdem SNG

You don't want to get in a habit of limping your marginal hands and raising only the good stuff. So yes you are on the right track. If you wanna play it and you are first to act raise.

You don't want to get in a habit of limping your marginal hands and raising only the good stuff.

Well, yes but... I agree about not limping marginal hands. However, the importance of open-raising with some of them depends on the extent to which your opponents will both (a) recognize that your opening range is tight and (b) adapt their play accordingly. At low stakes, there are plenty of players who can't do either decently, never mind both. They just "play their cards". There is little if any need to shift away from TAG against such players

#5

4th September 2013, 12:04 AM

AugustWest [530]

Poker at: Carbon

Game: Holdem only!

Kind of goes along with: "UTG is the new button" theorem.
"If he raised from UTG, gotta be QQ+ ! "

#6

4th September 2013, 12:04 AM

ScottishMatt [2,311]

Don't limp. Especially while still learning.

#7

4th September 2013, 5:42 AM

capecoralhobo [28]

Poker at: Bovada

Game: HORSE

Quote:

Originally Posted by vatopkr

Hi my pokerpal
Please tell me one thing. In the case You are sitting in a table with 9 players and 4 or 5 of them go all in all the time . What would you do ??

For me, that's a reason not to routinely raise mediocre hands from early position

Hi my pokerpal
Please tell me one thing. In the case You are sitting in a table with 9 players and 4 or 5 of them go all in all the time . What would you do ??

I would improve my game enough so I stop feeling it's worthwhile to play the play chip games and open freerolls where this happens.

#9

4th September 2013, 3:53 PM

NvrBlufn [146]

Poker at: Bovada

Game: NLHE

It works well as a play if you don't abuse it. Run this tactic when you think you'll gain favorable position or table image from doing it. If your only callers will fold to a regular c-bet when they don't hit, etc.

If you have the chips to wager, I consider it using them wisely because you gain information and narrow the field.

When I gain the button from MP with a strong raise and any callers who limped in before me are giving me credit for holding the upper end of my range I consider this to be a very advantageous position.